Aereo comes to Android: Watch TV anywhere, Android 4.2 and up

TV service expands platform support while winning legal battles.

Aereo, the broadcast-over-IP startup, has released an Android app for its service. Legal challenges notwithstanding, Aereo continues to expand into new markets, including Detroit later this week.

Aereo's software has been available on iOS since its inception (alongside a Web app and Roku channel) giving iPad, iPhone, and Apple TV users access to its channel lineup from their couch or on-the-go. Adding Android support gives access to additional mobile users, but it comes with a big caveat: Android 4.2+ is required.

It's unclear what limitation exists to keep the app from supporting more Android variants, but with roughly 12 percent of devices running a compatible version of Android, it's unlikely that this will have a big impact on the service's user base. For those of you in the right markets—and with the right devices—you can download the app from Google Play and sign up for Aereo's plans for as little as $8 a month.

I remember the very brief fight a few years back where radio broadcasters tried to get a law passed requiring built in receivers for all cell phones under the guise of "public safety". I wonder if TV broadcaster will do something similar after this Aero app.

I remember the very brief fight a few years back where radio broadcasters tried to get a law passed requiring built in receivers for all cell phones under the guise of "public safety". I wonder if TV broadcaster will do something similar after this Aero app.

I would really like to see this happen. especially during localized power outtages where the towers are still able to broadcast.

Many people aren't in a position, thanks to geography or architecture, to actually receive broadcast channels over the air. Hell, that's half the reason Aereo exists in the first place.

Those people can't have Aereo. It checks your address via credit card -- so you'd either have to add another address as an authorized purchasing address w/ your credit card, or you'd have to create a virtual credit card with an additional address added.

When I say "geography and architecture" I mean a feature of the land or the building you live in that prevents broadcast signals from being received properly, even though the property is within the stations' broadcast area - not simple distance.

Many people aren't in a position, thanks to geography or architecture, to actually receive broadcast channels over the air. Hell, that's half the reason Aereo exists in the first place.

Those people can't have Aereo. It checks your address via credit card -- so you'd either have to add another address as an authorized purchasing address w/ your credit card, or you'd have to create a virtual credit card with an additional address added.

I don't think that is what CrookedKnight meant. I'm sure he meant that even within a 'proper' Aereo zone there are plenty of people who still can't get OTA due to buildings, geogprahy, ect. I am an example myself. I live way outside NYC out in eastern Long Island. Legally I am in Aereo's market, but I'm way outside where I can get an decent OTA signal.

I remember the very brief fight a few years back where radio broadcasters tried to get a law passed requiring built in receivers for all cell phones under the guise of "public safety". I wonder if TV broadcaster will do something similar after this Aero app.

I had an FM radio in my old HTC EVO, but not in the US version of the GS3 I have now. Honestly, I liked the FM receiver, though I didn't use it very often, it was nice to have on the rare occasion. For broadcast channels (even HD broadcasts) I would think a TV antenna in a cellphone wouldn't be too much of a technical hurdle, and would be occasionally useful to have.

I've been enjoying Aereo's service since the summer, and for the most part I'm pleased. However, it's worth noting that when they talk about iOS compatibility, they mean a web app. Unfortunately there's still no native app (the publishing of an Android app before iOS is an interesting move), and the mobile web app implementation, like virtually every other mobile web app, is problematic at best. The service is great but the experience is not. I have no reason to cancel the service as I can usually remember to turn off auto-lock, etc., but I'm definitely eager to see a real Aereo app to make the service usable for the general public.

If they integrated chromecast to this, I would totally ditch cable. We have 4 devices running 4.2.

I agree that they need to implement Chromecast functionality ASAP, but what does that have to do with cable TV? This is for broadcast channels only.

Broadcast TV setup isn't that clean and simple for everyone in the post-analog age. Digital antennas can get expensive and can have mixed performance results depending on placement and many other variables.

I can see the appeal for cable cutting in exchange for $8 per month and a $35 dongle per TV. Combine that with the proper streaming services, you're talking about network television plus the equivalent of expanded cable service for 1/3rd - 1/4th the price. If Internet bandwidth is not an issue, I could see a lot of people considering this route.